Fuse holder, carrier and associated method

Abstract

A fuse holder for holding a fuse is provided that includes a body, a line side connector supported by the body, and a load side connector supported by the body. The fuse holder also includes a toggle switch supported by the body and capable of toggled engagement in a first position that provides electrical connection. The switch is also capable of toggled engagement in a second position that provides electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. The fuse holder also includes a fuse carrier. The fuse carrier is supported by the body and adapted for holding the fuse and the fuse carrier is adapted to be removed from the fuse holder. The fuse holder includes a blocking device blocking the toggled engagement of the switch from the second position to the first position when the fuse carrier is not within the fuse holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuse holder for holding a fuse, comprising: a body; a line side connector supported by said body; a load side connector supported by said body; a toggle switch supported by said body, said switch being capable of toggled engagement in a first position providing electrical connection between said line side connector and said load side connector and said switch being capable of toggled engagement in a second position providing electrical isolation between said line side connector and said load side connector; a fuse carrier, said fuse carrier supported by said body, said fuse carrier adapted for holding the fuse and said fuse carrier adapted to be removed from said fuse holder; and a blocking device for blocking the toggled engagement of said switch into the first position when the fuse carrier is not located within the fuse holder, said blocking device positionable between said toggle switch and said fuse carrier;
 wherein said blocking device comprises a cam pivotably supported by said body about a second axis spaced from a first axis, said cam connected to said switch and engageable with said fuse carrier to block the advancement of the fuse carrier into the body; 
 wherein said cam defines one of a pocket and a protuberance, and wherein said fuse carrier defines the other of the pocket and the protuberance, the protuberance engaging the pocket to rotate said cam as said fuse carrier is separated from the body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said fuse carrier. 
 
     
     
       2. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 , wherein said blocking device is adapted to urge said switch from toggled engagement in said first position to toggled engagement in said second position as said fuse carrier is removed from said fuse holder. 
     
     
       3. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 ; wherein said fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis; and wherein said fuse carrier is separable from said body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said fuse carrier. 
     
     
       4. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 ; wherein said switch includes a first portion that pivots from the first position providing electrical connection between said line side connector and said load side connector to the second position providing electrical isolation between said line side connector and said load side connector; and wherein said switch includes a second portion that includes a pair of switch contacts that selectably engage and disengage with a pair of body contacts fixedly secured to said body, the second portion slidably movable with respect to said body, the second portion operably connected to the first portion. 
     
     
       5. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 , wherein said fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis, said fuse being separable from said fuse carrier in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said fuse carrier. 
     
     
       6. The fuse holder as in  claim 2 ; wherein said blocking device has a first position for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from said body when said switch is in toggled engagement in said first position; and wherein said blocking device has a second position for permitting the removal of the fuse carrier from said body when said switch is in toggled engagement in said second position. 
     
     
       7. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 ; wherein said blocking device comprises a blocking device feature; and wherein said fuse holder comprises a fuse holder feature for cooperation with the blocking device feature for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from said body when said switch is in toggled engagement in said first position. 
     
     
       8. The fuse holder as in  claim 7 ; wherein one of said blocking device feature and said fuse holder feature comprises a protrusion; and wherein the other of said blocking device feature and said fuse holder feature comprises a void. 
     
     
       9. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 , wherein said fuse holder further comprises fuse electrical contacts mounted to said body, the contacts having concave engagement surfaces adapted to engage opposed cylindrical electrical contacts of the fuse. 
     
     
       10. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 ; wherein said fuse carrier holds the fuse when the fuse is assembled into the fuse carrier; and wherein said fuse carrier is adapted to be removed from said fuse holder, said fuse holder including a first fuse holder conductor in electrical engagement with a first end of the fuse when the fuse is assembled into the fuse holder and a second fuse holder conductor in electrical engagement a second end of the fuse when the fuse is assembled into the fuse holder, said first fuse holder conductor electrically connected to one of the line side connector and the load side connector when the fuse holder is in an operating position, said second fuse holder conductor electrically connected to the other of the line side connector and the load side connector when the fuse holder is in an operating position. 
     
     
       11. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 , wherein said fuse carrier is supported by said body, said fuse carrier holding the fuse when the fuse is assembled into the fuse carrier and said fuse carrier removeable from said fuse holder, said fuse holder including a first fuse holder conductor in electrical engagement with a first end of the fuse when the fuse is assembled into the fuse holder and a second fuse holder conductor in electrical engagement a second end of the fuse when the fuse is assembled into the fuse holder, said first fuse holder conductor electrically connected to one of the line side connector and the load side connector when the fuse holder is in an operating position, said second fuse holder conductor electrically connected to the other of the line side connector and the load side connector when the fuse holder is in an operating position. 
     
     
       12. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 , wherein said toggle switch is pivotably supported by said body about the second axis spaced from the first axis. 
     
     
       13. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 , wherein said cam comprises avoid and wherein said fuse carrier comprises a protrusion. 
     
     
       14. The fuse holder as in  claim 1 , wherein said fuse carrier further comprises an indicating module for indicating that a fuse is not functioning properly.